Ireland Man in 70s arrested over alleged circular saw threat in Ballinasloe
On 17 April 2023 a video circulated online showing a man using an electric saw on the front door of a house in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, while allegedly threatening to split open the man inside. The alleged attacker is a man in his 70s, reported to be the landlord of the house, and the tenant denies the rent dispute the landlord reportedly cited. Gardaí said enquiries were ongoing, and articles of 18 and 19 April reported no arrest. On 20 April 2023 gardaí confirmed that a man had been arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and was being detained at a Co Galway Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, and no charge has been reported.
- Reported18 Apr
2 reports - Arrested20 Apr
3 reports - Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A video shows a man using an electric saw to cut into the front door of a house in Ballinasloe to try to gain entry.
- The man inside told the man outside to stay back and said he would call gardaí, and the man with the saw lunged at him, but the door was pushed against him before any damage was done.
- The man with the saw allegedly threatened to split open the man inside and made threats against his partner and children.
- Where
- The incident took place at a residential premises in Ballinasloe, in the east of Co Galway.
- When
- The incident took place on 17 April 2023.
- Cause
- The landlord allegedly told gardaí that the tenants owed him money over rent dating back to last August.
- Other details
- The tenant denies owing money and says rent had been paid into a changed bank account.
- The alleged attacker is believed to be known to the man inside.
- Weapon
- The man used an electric saw, described in some reports as a circular saw, to cut through the door frame around the handle.
- Investigation
- Gardaí visited the man who recorded the video and said enquiries were ongoing.
- On 20 April 2023 gardaí arrested a man in his 70s for questioning and detained him under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Co Galway Garda station.
- Charges
- The man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997, and no charge has been reported.
- In court
- No court appearance has been reported.
43 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe video shows a man using a saw on the front door of a house to gain access. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe person outside got halfway through cutting before the man inside opened the door. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe video shows a man using an electric saw to try to gain access to a house. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe alleged attacker was reportedly threatening to split open the man inside. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe alleged attacker is believed to be known to the man inside. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe man inside tells the man outside to stay back and says he will call the guards. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatThe man with the saw lunges at the man inside but the door is pushed against him before any damage is done. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatA man allegedly tried to gain entry to a residence and threatened the man inside. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whatA landlord threatened tenants with a circular saw. (extra.ie)
- whereThe video was taken in the east of Galway county. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whereThe video was taken in the east of the county. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at a residential premises in Ballinasloe. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whereThe incident took place in a home in Galway. (extra.ie)
- whereThe alleged incident happened at a private residence in Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident was in Ballinasloe, Co Galway. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident took place on 17 April 2023. (galwaybeo.ie)
- whenThe alleged incident happened on 17 April 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe landlord allegedly told gardaí that the tenants owed him money. (galwaybeo.ie)
- causeThe dispute reportedly concerns rent payment dating back to last August. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe attacker used an electric saw to cut through the door frame around the handle. (galwaybeo.ie)
- weaponThe man allegedly used an electric saw. (galwaybeo.ie)
- weaponThe alleged threat involved a circular saw. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGalway Beo had contacted gardaí for a comment. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí have visited the man who recorded the incident. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed they are aware of a video in circulation online and have made personal contact with a private citizen. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí said enquiries are ongoing. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man following the incident. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationThe arrested man is detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Co. Galway. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (galwaybeo.ie)
- investigationAn arrest was made. (extra.ie)
- investigationA video of the alleged incident was published on social media. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí arrested a man for questioning. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí visited the scene of the alleged incident and examined the property. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe man was arrested for an alleged offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. (galwaybeo.ie)
- chargeThe man was arrested on suspicion of an offence under the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe man inside told the attacker to stay back and said he would call the gardaí. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe attacker is believed to be known to the man inside. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe attacker threatened to split the man inside open. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe attacker issued threats against the occupant's partner and children. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherThe tenant denies that the tenants owed money and says rent had been paid into a changed bank account. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherA video of the incident circulated online. (galwaybeo.ie)
- otherIn the video, a man is seen attempting to cut through the front door of a house with an electric saw. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe arrested man was detained at Galway Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Apr2023Man (70s) arrested over alleged circular saw incident at rented Co Galway property
First report of the arrest. Adds the location (Ballinasloe), the weapon, the reported rent dispute behind the incident, and the detention under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
suspect, 70s, malevictim, male - 20 Apr2023Arrest Made After 'Landlord Threatened Tenants With Circular Saw' In Galway Home
The article body contains only page template code. The headline is the only source of facts, so the date, victims and circumstances are not stated.
suspect - 20 Apr2023Galway landlord arrested over 'saw attack' as new details emerge about incident
First report of the arrest of a man over the alleged saw attack in Ballinasloe. Adds the garda statement on the arrest and detention, the tenant's account of a dispute over rent and a changed bank account, and the landlord's alleged explanation.
victim, malesuspect, male - 19 Apr2023Galway gardai ‘visit’ man after ‘angle grinder attack’ as incident investigated
Adds that gardaí have made personal contact with the man who recorded the video, that enquiries are ongoing, and a description of the video. The article reports no arrest or charge.
victim, malesuspect, male - 18 Apr2023Alleged saw attacker threatens to ‘split open man’ as video shows Irish incident
Adds details from video footage: the saw cut into the door, the attacker's threats to split the occupant open and to harm his partner and children, and that the attacker is believed to know the occupant. The article reports no arrest.
victim, malesuspect, male